Stevia as an alternative crop for tobacco production in RN Macedonia
The reform of the Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) for the tobacco sector in the European Union aims to gradually phase out subsidies for tobacco cultivation, a change that will significantly impact the tobacco industry in the Republic of North Macedonia. As a response, one proposed adaptation strat...
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| Main Authors: | , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
Institute of field and vegetable crops, Novi Sad
2025-01-01
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| Series: | Ratarstvo i Povrtarstvo |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://scindeks-clanci.ceon.rs/data/pdf/1821-3944/2025/1821-39442501020D.pdf |
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| Summary: | The reform of the Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) for the tobacco sector in the European Union aims to gradually phase out subsidies for tobacco cultivation, a change that will significantly impact the tobacco industry in the Republic of North Macedonia. As a response, one proposed adaptation strategy is the cultivation of alternative crops to maintain employment levels and market competitiveness with new products. Stevia (Stevia rebaudiana Bertoni) was explored as a potential alternative crop that local farmers could adopt. Field experiments were conducted in 2019 across three localities (L1 - L3) on seven experimental fields (EF1 - EF7). The results revealed that EF3 achieved the highest yield of dry biomass at 4,400 kg/ha, followed by EF7 and EF1 (3900 kg ha-1 and 3580 kg ha-1 respectively), showing significant differences with other fields (p < 0.05). The highest dry leaf yield (1,400 kg ha⁻¹) was observed at EF7, with statistical differences with EF6, EF5, and EF4. Among the localities, dry biomass yield was significantly higher at L3 (3,250 kg ha⁻¹) and L1 (3,115 kg ha⁻¹), compared with L2 (2,450 kg ha⁻¹). Based on dry leaf L3 producing the highest yield (935 kg ha⁻¹), significantly greater than L1 (840 kg ha⁻¹) and L2 (875 kg ha⁻¹). While some findings, such as the dry biomass yield are promising, the overall results obtain from one year of investigation are insufficient to recommend stevia as a viable alternative crop for the tobacco-growing regions of the country at this time. |
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| ISSN: | 1821-3944 2217-8392 |